Even Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso could not consider it. After watching Florian Wirtz dance by means of a crowd of SC Freiburg defenders in October 2023 to give his side a precious lead on their way to the Bundesliga title, the previous Spain worldwide merely raised his eyebrows on the touchline.
It was a quiet acknowledgment of Wirtz’s brilliance, and Alonso’s sentiments had been echoed after the match by Freiburg coach Christian Streich, who merely claimed: “You may’t defend in opposition to Florian Wirtz.”
That speculation can be examined extra rigorously than ever earlier than subsequent season following Wirtz’s £100 million transfer (plus £16m in add-ons) from Leverkusen to Liverpool. The 22-year-old playmaker has change into Arne Slot’s second arrival of the summer time, after the £30m signing of his teammate Jeremie Frimpong, with Liverpool obliterating their very own switch document (the £75m paid to signal defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018), however not fairly breaking the British switch document (Chelsea’s £106.8m signing of Enzo Fernández).
On paper, Wirtz is arguably probably the most thrilling signing in world soccer this summer time. Having loved a meteoric rise at Leverkusen, the Germany worldwide is already thought to be one in all Europe’s most prodigious abilities and, in becoming a member of the Premier League champions, he has secured an enormous platform on which to showcase his skills.
It is usually a transfer that has caught many without warning, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich or LaLiga giants Real Madrid (after they employed Alonso) seen as Wirtz’s more than likely vacation spot. Nevertheless, a supply instructed ESPN that Slot’s imaginative and prescient proved the compelling issue within the participant’s choice to maneuver to Merseyside.
Wirtz was recognized as the person to take the Dutchman’s Liverpool undertaking to the subsequent degree. So right here is the whole lot it’s worthwhile to know.
‘An actual spark and pleasure about him’
The youngest of 10 siblings, it’s maybe little surprise that household is on the heart of Wirtz’s world. The midfielder was raised within the rural city of Pulheim, simply outdoors of Cologne, and started his youth profession with native staff SV Grün-Weiß Brauweiler, the place his father Hans-Joachim — additionally his agent — continues to be the chairman.
“He and the ball had been all the time only one; you may see that early on after I performed in opposition to him or after we did issues along with the soccer,” Wirtz’s sister Juliane, additionally an expert footballer for Werder Bremen, instructed the official Bundesliga website in 2023.
“Even simply the best way he regarded on the ball. The actual fact is that he has a whole lot of expertise, however he is additionally executed loads [in terms of working] on it. Early on, from when he was actually younger, you may inform that boy would have one thing to do with soccer.”
Certainly, Wirtz’s expertise and utility quickly earned him a transfer to FC Cologne, the place he spent greater than a decade within the membership’s academy earlier than becoming a member of Leverkusen in 2020. It was throughout his time on the BayArena that the midfielder established himself as one of many Bundesliga’s brightest stars, registering 57 targets and 65 assists in 197 membership appearances.
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Florian Wirtz’s good purpose makes it 2-0 Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz dances by means of the Freiburg defence and doubles Leverkusen’s benefit.
After recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage sustained in 2022, Wirtz advanced into Leverkusen’s inventive fulcrum underneath Alonso, starring because the membership defied the percentages to clinch its first-ever league title, even going unbeaten, in 2023-24, in addition to successful the DFB-Pokal and reaching the UEFA Europa League closing, the place the staff finally misplaced out to Atalanta.
“While you play with Wirtz, you discover the distinction,” Leverkusen fan Gareth Houston tells ESPN. “There’s simply that little little bit of spark lacking when he isn’t there. We’ve got different very proficient gamers within the attacking positions, however there is no one who can change his high quality. There have been so many occasions when he’d simply decide up the ball and do one thing extremely particular and also you thought ‘you’ll be able to’t change that.’ For me, he is been the standout participant.
“He is acquired a status in Germany as being just a little bit much like somebody like [Chelsea forward] Cole Palmer within the sense that he is very carefree; he is very chill, he is very pleased. He simply loves enjoying soccer: there’s an actual spark and pleasure about him that you do not see with many gamers, and he expresses that on the pitch.”
Wirtz has additionally developed right into a key fixture in Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany aspect, having made his debut for the nationwide staff underneath Joachin Low in September 2021. He has already gained 29 senior caps and has proven he has an eye fixed for the massive event, scoring an equalizer in opposition to Spain within the quarterfinals of final summer time’s European Championship.
“Florian is simply an enormous asset along with his carefree nature,” Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, who managed Germany from 2021-22, mentioned of his former participant. “He is merely an excellent technician, likes to play, could be very inventive, has shot, runs onerous and is fast. He is the complete package deal.”
The defining attacking footballer for the subsequent decade?
Contemplating Liverpool gained the Premier League title at a canter — finally ending 10 factors away from second-placed Arsenal, clinching in late-April — Slot’s squad usually are not in want of main surgical procedure this summer time. Nevertheless, regardless of dominating domestically, the Reds’ Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain within the spherical of 16 laid naked a few of the staff’s deficiencies, hinting at a necessity for extra tempo, guile and firepower.
“I feel we are able to discover one or two additional weapons this staff would not have,” Slot mentioned in Might. “Perhaps, possibly, through the use of the switch market. That’s what we try to attain. That may make us solely stronger.”
Actually, Wirtz can be a potent attacking weapon for any staff in world soccer, and his distinctive talent set ought to present Slot with the additional aptitude he has been craving.
“Wirtz is arguably top-of-the-line out-and-out attacking playmakers on this planet proper now,” former scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen tells ESPN. “It is no shock he is been courted by the most important golf equipment in world soccer. He is more likely to be the defining attacking footballer for the subsequent decade.”
At Leverkusen, Wirtz usually lined up as a central attacking midfielder, or a No.10, working behind a middle ahead. It stays to be seen whether or not he can be used in a similar way by Slot, or whether or not he can be deployed in a extra superior place, both on the left wing or as a false No. 9. Wherever he performs, he’ll doubtless be tasked with turning into Liverpool’s most inventive drive, and his numbers definitely counsel he has all of the elements to fulfil that demand.
Because the begin of the 2023-24 season, solely Mohamed Salah (28) has extra assists in Europe’s Large 5 leagues than Wirtz (23). In accordance with Opta, Wirtz ranked eighth for progressive passes within the Bundesliga final season (155) and normal 2.1 probabilities from open play per 90 minutes within the Bundesliga (minimal of 1,000 minutes) — greater than any of his Leverkusen teammates and solely barely lower than Salah for Liverpool (2.3).
It is usually hoped that Wirtz can assist Slot’s aspect change the ingenuity of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who commonly helped the Reds to unlock cussed defenses earlier than he joined Actual Madrid in June. Final season, Wirtz created 2.1 probabilities from open play per 90 minutes in comparison with Alexander-Arnold’s 1.6, whereas Liverpool’s new signing additionally surpassed the England worldwide when it comes to anticipated assists per 90 (0.36 to 0.28).
Maybe most crucially of all, although, Wirtz confirmed a willingness to place within the onerous yards for his staff throughout his time at Leverkusen. He averaged 1.25 excessive turnovers per 90 minutes in all competitions in 2024-25; probably the most amongst all Bundesliga gamers (minimal 1,500 minutes performed). His spectacular work price will stand him in good stead at Anfield.
Skilled view
Karlsen examines what makes Wirtz so particular.
Outfitted with good technical expertise, Wirtz possesses an unbelievable capacity to identify a run from a teammate and decide the precise cross. Working within the attacking pockets of house masterfully, he is capable of create probabilities single-handedly and infrequently takes on defenders efficiently.
That is particularly evident when he is capable of flip rapidly with the ball and out of the blue up the tempo of a transfer. Certainly, solely Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard (or a peak Kevin De Bruyne) can rival Wirtz for spontaneous, game-changing actions from central attacking areas.
Averaging simply in need of 70 passes per 90 minutes, the teenager is very energetic within the build-up and is all the time in search of favorable positions to obtain the ball. He’s additionally a outstanding finisher. The vast majority of his targets have a tendency to come back from simply contained in the field (centrally), usually executed after rigorously choosing his spot and making use of the precise tempo on the ball along with his capturing approach.
A world-class participant with Ballon d’Or potential
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Why Florian Wirtz is a future Ballon d’or contender
Jan Aage Fjørtoft particulars the strengths of Florian Wirtz as he’s named at No. 2 on ESPN’s 39 finest U21 gamers.
With such a powerful physique of labor already behind him, it’s no shock that Wirtz was linked with a lot of Europe’s prime golf equipment earlier than finally selecting a transfer to Anfield.
“Flo is likely one of the prime gamers on this planet,” Alonso mentioned in a Leverkusen information convention final month. “He’s world class. Flo has a really mature thoughts. The folks round him, his mother and father, they need the perfect for him. They’re in a vital second of his profession.”
That Wirtz has chosen to make the leap to the Premier League reasonably than remaining in his homeland is reflective of his eagerness to broaden his horizons. His household, as has change into customized, have helped to information his choice and their assist can be wanted to make sure a seamless transition to English soccer.
“[The transfer fee] is an additional strain that the participant has arriving to Liverpool, a staff who already gained the Premier League final season,” former Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia instructed the ESPN FC present.
“Folks can be anticipating him to place his expertise on the desk immediately, however if you see him play, my feeling is that he would not really feel that strain. When he is on the ball, he is acquired the power to cease time, to cease the second and have the composure to determine properly … to make the cross, to take the shot. He is acquired that capacity as a result of he is particular. He is so calm, he is so chilly within the moments that he must be.”
Wirtz’s adaptation to life on Merseyside will even be made simpler by the presence of excellent good friend and former Leverkusen teammate Frimpong. With Frimpong charging ahead from proper again, the pair have delivered a mixed 111 purpose contributions for Leverkusen over the previous two seasons, and that sense of familiarity may very well be key to serving to each gamers really feel at residence each on and off the pitch.
“Florian and Jerry are each jokers,” Houston says. “They’re good mates so I feel that’ll assist him massively when it comes to settling in. I might say that in all probability influenced his choice fairly closely.
“Florian will get free reign at Leverkusen and I have been instructed that one of many issues that tempted him to Liverpool is that they’ll construct the staff round him. He is not a No. 10, he isn’t a winger, he is simply Florian Wirtz. There’s nothing he cannot do and if you happen to give him that freedom, he simply expresses himself.
“If he can keep injury-free and maintain grounded then the sky is the restrict. At a staff like Liverpool, he may do very properly. I feel he is acquired Ballon d’Or potential.”